Freezing cold temperatures continue for most of N.B.

NEW BRUNSWICK – It was a bone-chilling and dangerously cold Tuesday across the province, with temperatures ranging from -23 in Saint John to -30 in Campbellton.

Environment Canada issued an extreme cold weather warning for the entire province for most of the day.

It’s the kind of weather that can freeze human skin within minutes causing frost bite, hypothermia and respiratory problems like coughing and wheezing and even shortness of breath.

Jamie Snow spent the day delivering water in Moncton.

“It’s awful, awful, awful. My skin is starting to crack,” he said.

Snow’s co-worker Christopher Golden said the mad dash was on to get his spring water bottles delivered before they turned to slush.

“I would love to get back to my warehouse and get back to just bottling rather than delivering all day,” he said.

When the freeze fell over the province, it was those who work outside who felt it most.

“With water on the truck like this, it sits for a long time it can freeze if you leave it,” said Golden.

Jacques Frigault had to pace himself while he picked up trash in Moncton. It’s a tough job at the best of times, but in extreme cold weather, it’s even worse he said.

“It’s a slower pace it takes you longer to do your job because you got to take your time. There is a lot of ice on the ground and you have to wear like four times the amount of clothes that you usually do,” he said.

Kevin Allen is Frigault’s supervisor at Moncton Public Works and spent the day checking on his staff to make sure they were not suffering from exposure.

“We ask the fellas to dress warm and take regular breaks and with the ice and that too they’ve got to be careful,” he said.

This kind of extreme cold can be deadly for people who live on the streets. That’s why a homeless shelter in Moncton is opening its doors 24/7 for people needing a warm place to stay during the cold spell.

“On a cold night you can’t turn anyone away because they will freeze. It was about three years ago one of the guys who knew us well got drinking too much and fell asleep in the snow,” said shelter director Cal Maskery.

“His feet froze and ended up in the hospital for several weeks and one foot I don’t think ever came around.”

Maskery said staff will be on hand overnight Tuesday to let people into the shelter who need a warm place to sleep.

The extreme cold warning was lifted for most of the province by mid afternoon. But a snow squall warning remains in effect for Tuesday evening along the Acadian Peninsula.

According to Environment Canada, visibility will be significantly reduced due to the heavy snow combined with blowing snow, and snow will quickly accumulate. Snow squalls are expected to continue overnight over the northeastern part of the Acadian Peninsula.